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Kiana
(kai-ANN-uh)
For Photos of Kiana click here
For a Map of Kiana click here
| Current Population: |
383
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Northwest Arctic Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
|
| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Northwest Arctic Borough |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Kiana is located on the north bank of the Kobuk River, 57 air miles east of Kotzebue. The community
lies at approximately 66.975000° North Latitude
and -160.422780° West Longitude.
(Sec. 09, T018N, R008W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Kiana is located in the
Kotzebue Recording District.
The area encompasses 0.2
sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles
of water.
Kiana is located in the transitional climate zone. Temperatures average -10 to 15 °F during winter and 40 to 60 °F during summer. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -54 to 87 °F. Snowfall averages 60 inches, with 16 inches of total precipitation per year. The Kobuk River is navigable from the end of May to early October. |
Topographic
map of
Kiana
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Kiana means "a place where three rivers meet." It was established long ago as the central village of the Kobuk River Kowagmiut Inupiat Eskimos. In 1909, it became a supply center for the Squirrel River placer mines. A post office was established in 1915. The city government was incorporated in 1964. Prior to the formation of the Northwest Arctic Borough in 1976, the BIA high school taught students from Noatak, Shungnak, and Ambler, who boarded with local residents.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Kiana.
The population of the community consists of 92.8%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Kiana is a traditional Inupiat Eskimo village practicing a subsistence lifestyle. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 133, and vacant housing units numbered 36.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 3.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 99 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
11.61 percent,
although
51.23 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $39,688, per capita income was $11,534, and
11.24 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| A 200,000-gallon steel tank is intermittently filled from two wells near the Kobuk River. Water is chlorinated prior to distribution through buried water mains. Piped water and sewer are provided to 73 homes, the clinic, school, and community hall. Kiana maintains a 6-inch buried gravity sewer system, which drains to a lift station and is pumped through a buried force main to the sewage treatment lagoon northeast of the village. 19 households haul water and use honeybuckets or septic tanks. The landfill is located west of the sewage disposal lagoon.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 110
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Kiana Health Clinic (907-475-2199).
Kiana is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 4A in the Maniilaq Association Region. Emergency Services have river and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The economy depends on traditional subsistence activities, augmented by a cash economy. Chum salmon, freshwater fish, moose, caribou, waterfowl, and berries are harvested. The school, city, and Maniilaq Association provide the majority of year-round jobs. The Red Dog Mine also offers area employment. Kiana is one of the more modern villages in the borough and has three general stores. Three residents hold commercial fishing permits; seasonal employment also includes work on river barges, BLM fire-fighting, and jade mining. There is local interest in constructing a whitefish and turbot value-added processing plant. The city is also interested in developing eco-tourism, primarily guided river trips to the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes.
The major means of transportation are plane, small boat, and snowmachine. The state-owned Bob Baker Memorial Airport has a 3,400' long by 100' wide lighted gravel runway. Daily scheduled flights and charter flights are provided. Crowley Marine Services barges fuel and supplies each summer, and local store owners have large boats to bring supplies upriver. Boats, ATVs, and snowmachines are used extensively for local travel, and there are many trucks. A road extends along the river to Kobuk Camp, and a network of old trading trails exists. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Kiana
P.O. Box 150
Kiana, AK 99749
Phone 907-475-2109; 907-475-2136
Fax 907-475-2180
E-mail tribedirector@katyaaq.org, cityclerk@katyaaq.org
Village Council -
Native Village of Kiana
P.O. Box 69
Kiana, AK 99749
Phone 907-475-2109
Fax 907-475-2180
E-mail arichards@maniilaq.org
Web http://www.maniilaq.org
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Northwest Arctic Borough
P.O. Box 1110
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-2500
Fax 907-442-2930 & 3740
E-mail hhildreth@nwabor.org or mwhiting@nwabor.org
Web http://www.nwabor.org
Regional Native Corporation - NANA Regional Corporation
P.O. Box 49
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-3301
Fax 907-442-2866
E-mail info@nana.com
Web http://www.nana.com
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